5. & 6. The general principles of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill and the financial resolution in respect of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:12 pm on 7 February 2023.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 6:12, 7 February 2023

Diolch, Llywydd. I very much welcome all of the comments that have been made by Members today and the spirit in which they've been made. I've set out today why I believe this Bill is an important step in agricultural reform here in Wales and I've listened really carefully to the views and the recommendations of the three committees and, of course, to other Members as well. 

The Bill does provide the framework on which all future agricultural support will be delivered, and we also have the proposed sustainable farming scheme, which will be the first future support scheme and the main source of future Government support for farmers across Wales. Access to the sustainable farming scheme needs to be available to all eligible farmers in Wales. Members, including Jane Dodds, referred to tenant farmers, and I've said all along that if it's not accessible to tenant farmers, then it won't work. It's really important this scheme works for every farmer on every type of farm across Wales. 

I've implemented a number of working groups with farmers to understand the opportunities that exist, but also to see what barriers are there. So, working groups in relation to tenants, working groups in relation to new entrants, which, again, Jane Dodds mentioned, and working groups on common land to make sure we do have that vibrant farming sector here in Wales. 

To reiterate my opening remarks, I don't have time to go through all the recommendations or to address every Member's questions, but I'll certainly do my best to address many of them. I'll start with Paul Davies, as Chair of the ETRA committee. He asked for further clarity on the scope of support for ancillary activities. I know that's one of your recommendations to me, and I will provide further clarity on the scope of support for ancillary activities within the explanatory memorandum. So, an amendment is not needed. The scope of ancillary activity is linked to agriculture and they are complementary to the activities that are captured under the definition of 'agriculture'. So, whilst 'ancillary activities' is fairly broad, I think it's fair to say, that is to enable Welsh Ministers to be able to respond to future developments in the sector and enable that support to be more inclusive of the supply chain.

Several Members, including Paul Davies, mentioned the national minimum standards. They already exist in law, and what I've asked officials to do is to explore whether new legislation—whether that be primary or secondary legislation—is required to stabilise the existing regulatory baseline, for example, and the regulations.

Huw Irranca-Davies—again, I will be responding to the LJC committee—you talked about the sunset clause that is in the UK Agriculture Act, which will obviously end in 2025. I've previously stated that we will not sunset BPS. I know you listened to—sorry, Paul Davies's committee, I know, listened to—quite a good evidence session, I thought, from stakeholders on transition plans and a sunset provision for the Bill. I think it's fair to say that the farming unions and environmental organisations agreed there shouldn't be a cliff edge in financial support, and I've always said that, but there were varying views on the need to legislate for a transition period or for a sunset period, so—. I notice that you don't advocate for sunset provision. I think further detail on how, the transition to the new system of agricultural support, will form, of course, part of the final sustainable farming scheme consultation.

Huw Irranca-Davies also talked about the definition of sustainable land management. That's already defined in the Bill by the four objectives and the sustainable land management duty. The SLM objectives and duty have been informed by the UN definition, developed in the specific legislative context in Wales, obviously, of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. Because we've already got that legislation, it's been quite easy to hook in and to have that consistency. But also we've had extensive stakeholder consultation and engagement around that also—